The 36-year-old revealed it would be his last ever Olympic ride but said he could carry on until the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He said: “I’m in shock. You try and compose yourself but it’s surreal. This is enough for me, this is the perfect end to my Olympic career. I can’t put into words what it means to me. It’s one of the greatest feelings I have ever had.

I’m in shock. You try and compose yourself but it’s surreal. This is enough for me, this is the perfect end to my Olympic career. I can’t put into words what it means to me. It’s one of the greatest feelings I have ever had

Sir Chris Hoy

“How can you top this? Glasgow is another question, if I could keep going until Glasgow that would be the dream ending.”

Unstoppable Team GB has scooped a record 22 gold medals, 13 silver and 12 bronze adding up to an unbelievable 47 total so far.

Our athletes have comfortably eclipsed the heroics of Beijing in 2008 and produced our best tally since the London games of 1908.

The magic of London 2012 has seen record after record smashed – captivating a potential global audience of 4.8billion people.

And the extraordinary performances of British athletes have lifted the nation, with nearly nine out of 10 people tuning in to watch the drama on TV.

Officials revealed nearly 50.6million Britons – around 88 per cent of the population – have been gripped by Olympic fever eclipsing a decade of ratings records.

Throughout the keirin race, which Hoy won in a thrilling finish by an incredible 600th of a second, his parents held a banner with the words “the real McCoy” written across it as fans waved flags.

Speaking just moments after watching his son win his second London 2012 gold. his proud father David said: “I am just so proud of him on every level. I am going to start crying.” His mother Carol added: “I am over the moon, very much so.”

The cyclist was also congratulated on the velodrome trackside by rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave, whose record of five gold medals he surpassed. And with a silver from Sydney 2000 as well, Hoy equals Bradley Wiggins’ record total of seven medals.

The Edinburgh-born star told Sir Steve that he was emotional at having taken his accolade as Britain’s greatest ever Olympian.

He said: “To me he will always be the greatest.” When asked about his tears on the podium, Hoy said: “I could not hold it in. I think it’s when you realise how many things have not gone so well and you have doubted yourself and you take nothing for granted.

“I was going to celebrate any medal. It’s just been the most unbelievable experience of my life.” Speaking from the Olympic Velodrome, Sport Minister Shona Robison said: “Sir Chris Hoy is now Scotland and Britain’s greatest ever Olympian and an icon to millions across the world.”

Jubilant Laura became the first British female cyclist to win two gold medals in a Games adding to her team pursuit success with Dani King and Joanna Roswell.

Draped in the Union flag Laura said afterwards: “I can’t believe this is happening to me, I really can’t.”

Alistair Brownlee, 24, stormed to victory in the triathlon, the most gruelling event in the Olympics, while his brother Jonathan, 22, captured bronze in the 34- mile event Hyde Park.

Jonathan collapsed on the line and was taken away for medical treatment in a wheelchair after dramatically fighting back to win a medal despite being handed a 15- second penalty for mounting his bike too early.

Later, more than 23,000 ecstatic fans celebrated as Britain’s dressage team claimed their first ever gold medal at Greenwich Park.

It came courtesy of Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin.

Windsurfer Nick Dempsey, 31, took a silver after promising his three-year-old son Thomas he would bring home a medal for him.